Harvard readies for big test

Friday, October 25, 2013 -- Anonymous (not verified)

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College Football

Saturday, October 26, 2013

Author(s):

John H. Connolly

Harvard coach Tim Murphy certainly does not want to hear the old jazz standard “Tiger Rag” in his sleep as his unbeaten Crimson prepare to host the Princeton Tigers in a key showdown featuring two of the remaining three unbeaten Ivy League entrants at the Stadium today.

Harvard (5-0, 2-0) has not started 6-0 since 2004 when it finished 10-0. Princeton (4-1, 2-0) has reeled off four consecutive victories. Today marks the 106th meeting and Princeton holds a 53-45-7 edge.

Penn (3-2, 2-0), the other Ivy unbeaten, hosts Yale (3-2, 1-1).

“Princeton is probably the best (Princeton) team we’ve seen up here probably since the early 1990s,” said Murphy. “They are a very explosive team. They are No. 1 in just about every category offensively. They are No. 1 is just about every category defensively. So, this is going to be a big game for us. They are undefeated in the league. We are obviously undefeated in the league. So, we literally, have a tiger by the tail.’’

Last week, the Tigers trailed host Brown by 17 before posting 39 unanswered points for the 39-17 victory. Princeton, behind quarterback Quinn Epperly, amassed 30 first downs and 566 total yards. The junior quarterback was named Ivy League Offensive Player of the Week after completing 14-of-22 passes for 233 yards, and rushing for three touchdowns.

Princeton, which has scored 212 points through five games, features a dual threat offense. Junior Connor Michelsen can play alongside Epperly to challenge opposing defenses. Michelsen found Des Smith for a 28-yard score at Brown. Michelsen (62-of-111, 663 yards, two TDs, two INTs) and Epperly (56-of-82, 754 yards, nine TDs, one INT) are equally adept at the run or throw. Epperly has gained 267 yards rushing (6.4 average), Michelsen 3.6 yards per rush.

“They’re legit. They could put any one of those quarterbacks on the field and be successful,” said Murphy.

“Bottom line, their offense has really come along over the last couple of years. But the biggest improvement they have made as a program is as a team. They are playing great defense. They lead in almost every defensive category. So, if you put it all together, this will be as good a team as we’ll play all year.”

Murphy knows it starts at quarterback for the Tigers.

“First of all, their quarterbacks are athletic enough that is almost like having a wildcat quarterback because their guys can really run,” Murphy said. “No. 2, because it’s a read zone option, or some form of it, yeah, you have to be extremely assignment and gap-oriented (on defense). Like us, they have a very up-tempo offense that is coming at you fast. So, the combination is certainly challenging.”

“It was a real solid win and it all started with defense. Our first defense did not give up a touchdown, and anytime you do that in this day of explosive offenses is a tremendous accomplishment,” said Murphy. “So, we’ve got to play some kids and some of our second (team) and third (team) guys got a chance to play in the last seven or eight minutes. So, that was exceptional.

“But, it all starts up front and everybody did a good job at every level to keep them off the goal line but the two guys that continue to get it done up front are Nnamdi Obukwelu, our really outstanding tackle from Brockton, and, obviously, Zach Hodges. Both of those kids are among the very best players in our league.”